Messages - Bappi

For centuries string players, including those in top chamber groups and symphony orchestras, have found that well fitted wooden friction pegs work well on violins, violas, and cellos. It's the same with ouds. Mechanical tuners are a great help with metal strings. The soft strings on a oud tune and hold easily with properly fitted wooden pegs. Of course you need to learn how to use the pegs. It takes a few seconds to learn. I think you will find that most experienced makers of good quality ouds will not use mechanical tuners because an oud set up like that looks like a bride in a wedding dress wearing a baseball cap. So if you are buying an oud with mechanical tuners it is likely you are not getting a good instrument.

Actually when I took my oud into a local shop (Amherst's "Fretted Instrument Workshop") the luthier there was very entertained - or confused? - by what he saw as the random nature of the string-to-peg pattern. I used the pattern illustrated above in Sreya's post and the luthier asked me if there was a good reason for it. I had to admit that, as a total newbie, I didn't know.

You can grab an oud from Iraqi family. In the last century a new design was developed by Mohammed Fadel Hussein. This Oud features a floating bridge, similiar to Mandolin and Irish Bouzoukis. It also usually features oval sound holes without rosettes. These along with other construction differences creates an Oud with a unique sound. Some say it more similiar to a guitar in that the middle range frequencies come out creating a clean and full sound. Nowadays, this style of Oud is built by all Oud builders. You can find low cost floating bridge Ouds from most Oud factories.

As a guitar player looking to learn the oud, these lessons are a great help! Patient and thorough, Navid offers insights into every aspect of oud playing. From the anatomy of the instrument to the complexities and nuances of middle-eastern music, Navid opens the doors for us and guides us knowingly through to the realm of understanding.

Want a new darbuka with a massive overall performance? Read some tips. It's only for you guys

Buying The Darbuka from a known maker, who is well versed with its aesthetic qualities and its importance, can help you a lot in your quest. None but an experienced darbuka maker would be able to give it a proper shape. This is why you should treat this issue carefully. For example, the darbukas that are crafted in the hands of Gawharet El Fan have their own specialties that you would never find in any other darbuka. But before buying that particular darbuka, you should check the signature that is engraved in them for helping you to distinguish them. Make sure that the signature is a real one and not a fake. You can find these darbukas in www.arabinstruments.com without making a diligent search.

However wikipedia tells that there are two main types of goblet drums. The Egyptian style has rounded edges around the head, whereas the Turkish style exposes the edge of the head. The exposed edge allows closer access to the head so finger-snapping techniques can be done, but the hard edge discourages the rapid rolls possible with the Egyptian style.

The goblet drum may be played while held under one arm (usually the non-dominant arm) or by placing it sideways upon the lap (with the head towards the player's knees) while seated. Some drums are also made with strap mounts so the drum may be slung over the shoulder, to facilitate playing while standing or dancing. It produces a resonant, low-sustain sound while played lightly with the fingertips and palm. Some players move their fists in and out of the bell to alter the tone. There are a variety of rhythms (see dumbek rhythms) that form the basis of the folkloric and modern music and dance styles of the Middle East.